1866 Sydney Mint Sovereign About Extra Fine

The 1866 Sydney Mint Gold Sovereign is a significant piece of Australian numismatic history, struck during a formative period at Australia’s first official mint. This sovereign belongs to the second type of Sydney Mint design, featuring the words "SYDNEY MINT" and "AUSTRALIA" on the reverse – a distinctive layout unique to sovereigns minted exclusively at the Sydney facility between 1855 and 1870.

Struck in 22-carat (91.67%) gold and weighing 7.98 grams, the coin bears the young portrait of Queen Victoria by James Wyon on the obverse, reflecting the early reign of Britain’s longest-serving monarch at the time. The reverse displays a crown above the denomination within a laurel wreath, surrounded by the legend “SYDNEY MINT – ONE SOVEREIGN.”

• Struck in 1866 at Australia’s first mint – Sydney Mint
• Features the unique Sydney Mint reverse design (Type II)
• 7.98 grams of 22-carat (91.67%) gold
• Obverse: Young head portrait of Queen Victoria by James Wyon
• Reverse: Crowned denomination within a laurel wreath, unique to Sydney issues
• Graded About Extra Fine (aEF) – strong detail with light wear
• Highly desirable piece of early Australian numismatic and gold history